Sunday Music Muse Day (a day late due to Father Day)Joe Zawinul, Jan Garbarek

Here's my Sunday Muse Muse Day, delayed because of Father's Day).  First, I hope everyone had a good's Father's Day.  Let's start with maybe one of the father of Jazz Fusion, Joe Zawinul  Faces and Places.  This seems to be a Japanese Victor release. This is one of his many post-Weather Report recording, which are always interesting to come across. 

                                         

Next up is Jan Garbarek Eventyr, an 1981 ECM released with the late John Abercrombie on guitar, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussions.  Surprisingly, I never had this on Vinyl. I'm happy to add it o my ECM selections.

So, short post to catch up.  Again, I hope Father's Day was enjoyable for everyone.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Jan Garbarek, Egberto Gismonti, & Charlie Haden - Magico, Larry Coryell

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds our local weather ranging from blueskies with bellowing white cloud to sinister dark clouds, to heavy down pours, or as we call it, typical Rochester weather, it changes by the minute. I'm finding comfort in listening to two enjoyable CD finds. First up, Jan Garbarek, Egberto Gismonti and Charlie Haden - Magico - Carta de Amor.  It's a long title for a trio generally known a Magico, from the title of their first outing in 1980 with Charlie Haden credited as leader. I remember buying the album back then and remained a fan ever since. Carta de Amor was recorded live in Munchen, Germany, in April 1981.  The beauty of their music in timeless.  This two CD set has one of my favorite  Magico tune, "Palhaco", but there is only paid versions online from this CD set. I'm happy to say I got to see Egberto Gismonti in duet with Nana Vasconcelos, in the '80's in a Brazilian club/disco in NYC. I was attracted to Gismonti's playing of a 10-string classical guitar, and his amazing piano performances.  I think he single-handedly introduced me to another side of Brazilian music, besides bossa nova, coming from the region of Bahia, Brazil. Any Magico trio CD is worth giving a listen.

My second selection is actually a repeat posting, due to my being a visual person, in that I thought, by the cover, it was one I didn't have, but actually Larry Coryell Shining Hour is a CD I already have.  I'm glad I do,  because I find the 32 Jazz release cover info to be totally lacking, just stating the band personal, and the song titles, but not tunes authors, or even the recording date info.  This is a nice straight ahead jazz session for Coryell and company to shine, recorded in 1999 at the Van Gelder Recording Studio, with the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, engineering. It doesn't get better than that.

Here's the original CD Cover.

As The rain continues, on and off. I'm happy to be indoors and listening to these tunes.  Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Jakob Bro, Jan Garbarek Quartet

This Sunday Music Muse Day features another two ECM releases, one new, one old. First up, Jakob Bro Uma Elmo. This trio session with Bro on guitar, Arve Henriksen on Trumpet and Jorge Rossy on drums was recorded in 2020 and released in 2021.  ECM's motto is "most beautiful sound next to silence". This record has a twist on this, in that there are sections where the playing is so soft that I couldn't hear a note. It was kind of annoying.  I'll have to give more listenings to give it a final judgement. For now, it's just so-so.

My second selection is the Jan Garberek Quartet Afric Pepperbird, an early 1970 ECM release, with Garbarek on saxophones, Terje Rypdal on guitar, Arlid Anderson on bass, and Jin Christensen on percussion.  All are well known players as leaders and sidemen on many ECM recordings.  This is a more avant garde/free jazz for my taste, but interesting given the musicians present, since I have many of their later recordings.

So, fall has officially arrived with cooler weather, and the leaves are starting to turn colors.  It's always a good time to enjoy some music.  So, remember to enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Art Lande, Jan Garbarek - Bobo Stenson Quartet

This Sunday Music Muse Day find us celebrating Mother's Day, so first happy Mother's Day to all mothers, past, present and future. This week's selection are two classic ECM recording with a musician in common.  Art Lande / Jan Garbarek Red Lanta the duet session with Lande on piano and  Garbarek on flutes, soprano and bass saxophones. This is a early ECM release from 1973, with all tunes composed by Art Lande.  It sounds fresh as if recorded yesterday.  I'm seen the cover for years but never cross a copy of the album or CD before, although I have many of recording feature Jan Garbarek as a leader and sideman.

By second selection is Jan Garbarek - Bobo Stenson Quartet, another early ECM recording from 1974.  This features Garbarek as co-leader on soprano and tenor saxophones, with  Bobo stenson on piano, Palle Danielsson on double bass, and Jon Christenson.  I recognize this bass and drum duo from many ECM sessions.  The title tune, Witchi-Tai-To, written by Jim Pepper who ..."adapted the song from an ancient peyote chant that he learned from his Native American grandfather. " I remember it as counter culture anthem covered my many groups like Oregon and others.

So, again, here's wishing everyone a happy, peace, and loving Mother's Day.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Jan Garbarek Group, Chet Baker

This Sunday Music Muse Day find us suffering warm weather, in the 90º s, but not as hot as my west coast friend with 100º + heat.  It's a perfect day to crank up the AC, grab a summer drink and listen to some cool jazz.  So, first up is Chet Baker CAREER 1952-1988. Trumpeter Chet Baker is the poster child of cool jazz of the 1950s and 60s. This 2 disc anthology of his career broken in two aspects, his trumpet playing and his singing. The CD set come with 66 page documenting Baker creative and often tragic career due to his battle with drug addition.  But the genius of the music always comes through.

By second choice is Jan Garbarek Group Photo With...("...Blue Sky. White Cloud, Wires, Windows, and a Red Roof ". is the full title, but some one have to good sense to shorten it on the cover.). A reviewer notes, "Each piece breaks a piece from the longer title and rolls it out into a photo in its own right."  Saxophonist Garbarek is a stable of ECM Records, as are the other musicians on the session, either as leaders, or sidemen. Guitarist Bill Conners was one of the main reasons I picked this up as it follows his departure from Chick Corea's Return to Forever in the late 70s to pursue a solo career and more acoustic guitar playing.  This 1978 recording sound fresh and timeless as you would expect from an  ECM recording.

So, stay cool, and enjoy the day.

Another Belated Sunday Music Muse Day post - Terje Rypdal, David Darling, Jan Garbarek with Bill Conners.

Here's another belated Sunday Music Muse Day, featuring some vinyl records, which I don't have on CD.  First up is saxophonist Jan Garbarek Places, an 1977 ECM release, featuring Bill Connors (post Chick Corea's Return to Forever) on acoustic guitar, Jack DeJohnette on Drums and John Taylor on organ and piano. I'm almost positive I picked this up because of Bill Connors.  I think I appreciate it more now than when I first bought, as I was still into the heavy guitar fusion style. My tastes have mellowed over the years and ECM recordings helped.

My second choice is another ECM release (1984) Terje Rypdal David Darling Eos (note the album title doesn't appear on the front cover). By the 80's I was interested in picking up any by ECM, and had several by guitarist Rypdal, a very esoteric player. This duet album with cellist David Daring definitely fits that description.  I still need to explore it more.

I think I'll be digging into my vinyl stack in the coming weeks.  It's like visiting old friend, who you lost touch with.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Steve Tibbetts, Jan Garbarek with Miroslav Vitous and Peter Erskine

Just a quick Sunday Music Muse Post with two selections I found last week at the Record Fair in the Southwedge, in here in Rochester, NY, at the Old German House.  Although, primarily set up for vinyl record hunter, I always find a couple of CDs of good music, these both being ECM releases.  First up, guitarist Steve Tibbetts A Man About A Horse.  I have some of his early work from the 1980s including his Safe Journey album, which is one of my favorites albums.  This 2002 CD, A man About a Horse, doesn't  match the intensity of Safe Journey but it is still a enjoyable outing.

The other ECM selection is Jan Garbarek with Miroslav Vitous and Peter Erskine, StAR.  Jan Garbarek's soprano and tenor saxophone playing is constant stable on many ECM recordings.  Bassist Vitous and drummer Erskine were both alumni of legendary fusion band Weather Report,  Vitous was one of the original co-founders of Weather Report, but left over creative difference with Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter.  This CD is classic ECM, solid playing in am adventurous, thought provoking manner. As a reviewer Rick Anderson of the All Music website states, "On this leaderless trio album, as with most ECM releases, you get the feeling of music emerging from a vast and echoey space."  I agree it's well worth a listen.

   In these chaotic time, hope you can find some good music to get through the days.  Enjoy.